All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) President Pervez Musharraf is likely to delay his return to Pakistan as he has not gathered the political support he needed before ending his self-imposed exile, the local media reported on Monday.
Talking to reporters, APML leader Ahmed Raza Kasuri said, “Musharraf will make a final decision about his homecoming once a caretaker government is in place.”
“He might return to Pakistan and hold public gatherings. At the same time he might also delay his return,” Kasuri said.
Kasuri predicted that several politicians would join the party after the return of Musharraf. “We have got support from custodians of shrines,” he added. “Apart from others, today brother-in-law of Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Bokhari, also joined the APML.”
Meanwhile, a source close to Musharraf said the APML planned electoral alliances with three political parties which included the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
“We are working on alliances and seat adjustments with the MQM, PTI and Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek,” he said. “Since our manifesto is revolutionary, we are in contact with political parties who believe in change.”
The announcement of the alliances would be made within next week by the party president from Dubai.
Earlier, reports said Saudi Arabia had played a key role in former president Pervez Musharraf’s possible return to Pakistan by convincing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to not create any hurdles in the way of Musharraf’s return.
“Musharraf announced the return after getting assurance from the PML-N leaders,” the report quoting sources said.
However, when a local news agency contacted PML-N’s Information Secretary Mushahidullah to comment over the news report, he said he had no knowledge of the issue.